The Coffee Quality Summit was developed as a way to bring industry experts together to share their vast knowledge with smallholder producers. Because they’ve never sold their coffees on the basis of quality, most Yepocapa farmers have not previously had access to information regarding even basic themes related to the specialty coffee industry or cup-quality.

For example, how to target enhanced flavor and cup-quality through pre-harvest, time-of-harvest, and post-harvest methods, how certain defects affect final cup-quality and potential value, and simple ways to reduce defects, have previously been unknown to these farmers. The CQS provides a forum where interested farmers can gain important information to help target cup-quality, have conversations with specialty buyers, and gain higher profitability potential.